In many ways, the UN andthe labor movement are eacha product of the same socialand historical experiences. In some respects, they grewup together.

Our little chapter of the UNAssociation is connected tothe labor movement throughthe Council of Organizationsof the UNA-USA. TheCouncil is a network ofmore than 90 civil societyorganizations who share thecommon goals of promotinggreater public awarenessabout global issues and theUN's importance in worldaffairs and strengthening theUS-UN relationship.

Among the members of the Council are the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations(AFL-CIO); and the American Federation of Teachers. So, if you belong to the AFT or to any union represented inthe AFL-CIO, you're already part of the UNA-USA community.

There are two key documents that provide a solid foundation for the friendship andsolidarity that exists between the United Nations Association and organized labor.

The first is the Constitution of the International Labor Organization -- the ILO.

The ILO's history actually goes back to 1919, when the organization was created as part of the Treaty of Versaillesthat ended World War I. As stated on the ILO's website, the framers of the treaty believed that "...universal andlasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice."

From ILO.org:

"The driving forces for ILO's creation arose from security, humanitarian, politicaland economic considerations. Summarizing them, the ILO Constitution's Preamblesays the High Contracting Parties were 'moved by sentiments of justice and humanityas well as by the desire to secure the permanent peace of the world...'

"There was keen appreciation of the importance of social justice in securing peace, against a background of exploitation of workers in the industrializing nations of that time. There was also increasing understanding of theworld's economic interdependence and the need for cooperation to obtain similarity of working conditions incountries competing for markets."

In 1944, the ILO's Constitution was amended by the addition of the Declaration of Philadelphia -- a statementconcerning the aims and purposes of the ILO. The Declaration of Philadelphia reaffirmed the fundamental principlesof the ILO. In particular, the ILO representatives at the Philadelphia Conference famously asserted:

"(a) labour is not a commodity;

"(b) freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress;

The reference to "freedom of expression and of association" was a strong endorsementof the rights of workers to form unions.

In Article III of the Declaration, the ILO recognized its responsibility to promote full employment, decent standardsof living, a minimum living wage, and "the effective recognition of the right of collective bargaining."

The Philadelphia Declaration was a prelude to the ILO's decision to join the United Nations. At the end of WorldWar Two, the ILO voted to enter into a relationship with the UN on terms that were ultimately determined by anegotiated agreement. The Agreement -- signed on May 30, 1946 -- made ILO the first specialized agency underthe terms of article 57 of the United Nations Charter.

For at least 65 years, therefore, the United Nations has recognized the importance of worker rights -- including the right of collective bargaining.

A second key document that serves to bind the UN Association in solidarity with the organized labormovement is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration addresses the rights of workers:

"(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, tojust and favourable conditions of work and to protection againstunemployment.

"(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal payfor equal work.

"(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourableremuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthyof human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

"(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests."

While the UDHR is not legally binding on any state or nation, it is an expression of common human values that areshared widely by the people around the world. Jimmy Carter has described the UDHR as "...A beacon, a guide toa future of personal security, political freedom, and social justice."

The Universal Declaration is the "Most Translated Document" in the world. It represents the first global expressionof rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

If there ever was a single individual who represents the solidarity between The Worker and the United Nations, Eleanor Roosevelt would surely be that person.

It was Eleanor Roosevelt's hard work which led to the creation ofthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In addition, itwas her leadership that guided the adoption of Article 23.

According to UN documents, Mrs. Roosevelt explained that:

“The United States delegation considered that the right to form andjoin trade unions was an essential element of freedom. While otherassociations had long enjoyed recognition, trade unions had met withmuch opposition and it was only recently that they had become anaccepted form of association. The struggle was, in fact, still continuing, and her delegation thought, therefore, thatspecific mention should be made of trade unions.” (Source: George Washington University).

In the years prior to the writing of the UDHR, Mrs. Roosevelt was a recognized friend of labor. In 1941, prior toAmerica's entry into World War Two, she had an opportunity to speak to a local union of the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers. Mrs. Roosevelt offered words to the workers that are still relevant today:

"...As I look over the past few years, the thing that gives me the most hope for the future is the fact that,on the whole, people are standing together, people are working for the good of a group, not just forthemselves. When we learn that I think we are going to find that we can move forward faster and faster.

"I wish those of us who are employers would learn that it is throughcooperation that we achieve more – that through stating our problemsand asking people to work with us to solve them that we really getsomewhere.

"But that requires constant education for all of us, and I think weought to bring all we can into really understanding the problems thatare before the nation as a whole and as they affect our own particularsituation....

"We find ourselves at a serious moment in the history of the world. We face problems not only as citizens of theUnited States; we face them as part of the entire world.

"The greatest thing we can get out of the present crisis is to develop the habit of working together and realizing thatwhatever happens is going to affect us all.

"I want to leave you this morning and express my gratitude to you for having stood together to gain those things,materially and spiritually, that will make life for your group richer and more productive.

"I hope the day will come when all the people of this country will understand that cooperation will bring usgreater happiness, and will bring us in the end a better life for the whole country and enable us to exert agreater influence on the world as a whole."

Decent Work: A better world starts hereThe primary goal of the International Labour Organization is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtaindecent and productive work,in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. This web movie providesa three minute overview of the concept of Decent Work and is available in 25 languages.www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDP5j8WT2nc(less than 3 minutes)

February 26, 2011. Workers gather at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City for a Rally toSave the American Dream. The collective bargaining rights of teachers and municipalworkers were threatened by proposals in the State Legislature. The UN has a longhistory of expressing support for the rights of workers. (Photo: James M. Branum)